Feral Cats: One Town Offers Planned Pethood, Another A Bounty

In the ongoing struggle to deal with the overpopulation of felines and feral cat colonies, two towns announced two radically different strategies — one was applauded, the other pummeled.

In Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, organizers developed “Planned Pethood,” a take-off on the name Planned Parenthood for dealing with feral cats. Opting for the trap, neuter, and release strategy, the organization will raise money for the spays and neuters of feral cats. According to the article in CBC News, “there are about 300,000 feral cats roaming parks, waterfronts, backyards, and back streets of the Halifax Regional Municipality.” That’s an enormous population.

Meanwhile, in Randolph, Iowa, the city was offering a $5 bounty for every feral cat turned into the city. It seems the little town of 200 was overrun with feral cats, about 50-60, as reported, and this was the community’s solution to the problem. Captured cats were to be turned over to the city who would euthanize them if no one claimed them. Feral cats, by definition, are cats that have never had contact with humans, so no one is going to claim them. The town said it was just trying to stop people from shooting or poisoning the animals. But a national outcry forced the city council to reverse it’s decision.

Two different approaches, one is a long-term solution, the other was a short-term solution. Ironically, I would have expected Halifax, with their 300,000 feral cats, to adopt an approach that involved some euthanasia, and the folks in Randolph, Iowa, to implement trap/neuter/release. It all boils down to available resources and community perspectives. Part of the problem in Randolph, with only 200 people in residence, is that there genuinely might not be anyone willing to be a feral cat caretaker. It takes a special person to take on this task — maybe 10 in a million, thinking of our own city’s feral cat caretakers — and they just don’t have enough residents to pull from. If that is the case, how will they solve their problem?

About the Author

Cathy M. Rosenthal has more than 25 years of experience in public relations, communications and humane education in the animal welfare field. She has worked for local humane societies and national humane groups, appearing on hundreds of television and radio news and public affairs programs to address animal issues. She currently is a consultant for local and national animal welfare organizations, writing grants, annual reports and other marketing materials. She is also the author of several children's books about animals.